Mateen Cleaves arrested on suspicion of drunken driving over the weekend

MT. MORRIS TOWNSHIP, Michigan — Former Flint Northern and Michigan State basketball star Mateen Cleaves was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving by Mt. Morris Township police over the weekend.

Cleaves hasn’t been arraigned on charges related to the arrest, but Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell confirmed Cleaves was booked in the Genesee County Jail early Saturday morning on suspicion of drunken driving.

Mateen Cleaves
Cleaves’ attorney Frank Manley said Cleaves “takes his position as a role model to young people very, very seriously,” but chose to drive because of a family emergency involving his son. He did not provide further details about the emergency this morning.

“The timing of this incident couldn’t have been worse and we ask that people reserve judgment until they’ve heard all the facts,” he said. "In no way does he promote any driving that’s not considered safe and appropriate."

Cleaves, who spent one season with the Detroit Pistons after he was drafted by them in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft, recently joined Fox Sports Detroit as a Pistons studio analyst.

Cleaves was released from the jail around 5 p.m. Saturday and is currently in Chicago, said Manley.